System for Managing Accounting

ABSTRACT

A method for managing game accounting on at least one gaming machine comprising one or more active games is provided. The method comprises providing a memory means operatively connected to the gaming machine, wherein the memory means comprises a set of active game meters for each active game on the gaming machine, and one set of removed game meters accumulating data corresponding to all games removed from the gaming machine. Active game data is received and stored in applicable active game meters. For any removed game, the game state data is captured prior to the game&#39;s removal and is stored in the applicable accumulating removed game meters. The stored game data is accessed in the active and removed game meters and a theoretical win value is used to determine the overall gaming machine performance.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a method for managinggame accounting in a casino gaming system.

BACKGROUND

Generally, casinos attempt to populate the casino gaming floor withgames that captivate and maintain player interest. Many electronicgaming machines (EGM) allow games to be inter-changed from the machinesas needed without physically moving the gaming machine itself. Moreparticularly, the more popular games may be installed in EGMs and theless popular games may be removed from the EGMs.

Currently, when the game and any associated game content is removed fromthe EGM, a complete erasure of the EGM's persistent memory is required.In other words, today when the game is removed, the gaming machine mustbe reset, which includes resetting the accounting meters. Historically,the erasure was required to establish a coherent starting point, withoutany “out of context” residual meters from the previous game content. Ifthe residual meters had been retained, then there would be complicationswith calculating the new game performance and the weighted theoreticalpercentage of the new game or overall EGM. As stated above, historicalprocedure required a complete erasure of the EGM's persistent memory.This effectively treated the EGM as a newly installed machine with nohistory of ever being played, or having money and/or credit inserted ordispensed. Any statistical data of the EGM's performance was lost as aresult of this erasure.

Another side effect of the aforementioned erasure of EGM's persistentmemory is that networked host systems monitoring the EGM are required toclose out the accounting books on the EGM and open a new set ofaccounting books for the EGM with a new identifier. Effectively, thisresults in the EGM appearing as a completely new unit with a new uniquenetwork identifier.

What is needed is an accounting system and method to maintain and manageaccounting information for games that have been removed from one or moregaming machines. Additionally, what is needed is an accounting systemand method that includes a strategy to restore information associatedwith removed games from a gaming machine and resume accounting meters atvalues that were captured at the time a game was removed, all withoutcorrupting the balance of the related accounting meters.

SUMMARY

Briefly, and in general terms, various embodiments directed to anaccounting system and method for managing game accounting are disclosed.One embodiment provides a method for managing game accounting on atleast one gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine comprises one ormore active games. A memory means operatively connected to the gamingmachine is provided, wherein the memory means comprises a set of activegame meters for each active game on the gaming machine, and one set ofremoved game meters accumulating data corresponding to all games removedfrom the gaming machine. Active game data is received and stored inapplicable active game meters. For any removed game, the game state datais captured prior to the game's removal and is stored in the applicableaccumulating removed game meters. The game date stored in the active andremoved game meters is accessed to determine the overall gaming machineperformance.

Another embodiment provides a method for managing accounting in a casinogaming system including one or more gaming machines connected via anetwork connection, wherein each gaming machine comprises one or moregames stored thereon. One or more memory means operatively connected toeach gaming machine is provided. Each memory means comprises a separateset of active game meters for each active game on a particular gamingmachine, and one set of removed game meters for the same particularmachine. Data corresponding to all games removed from the gaming machineis accumulated and stored in the set of removed game meters. Active gamedata is received and stored in applicable active game meters. The storedgame data in the active and removed game meters is accessed and acalculated theoretical win value is used to determine the overall gamingmachine performance.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the featuresof the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a gaming machine for use in accordance withan embodiment of the accounting system.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of meter sets for use with a gaming machine inaccordance with an embodiment of the accounting system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a casino gaming system for use inaccordance with an embodiment of the accounting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an accountingsystem and method for use with a casino gaming system comprising one ormore gaming machines. More particularly, the accounting system andmethod provides a means to reconcile and balance game accounting on agaming machine that permits games to be deleted and added on the gamingmachine.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denotelike or corresponding parts throughout the drawings and, moreparticularly to FIGS. 1-3, there are shown various embodiments of anaccounting system and method for use with a casino gaming system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 having a game display 12 isshown. In one embodiment the gaming machine 10 is a gaming machine thatallows one or more games to be executed upon it for display in the gamedisplay 12. Generally, a game includes a set of symbols combined with aset of probabilities for obtaining combinations and permutations ofthose symbols, as well as a pay schedule that states the award paid asthe result of a particular symbol arrangement. The gaming machine 10 mayoffer or provide more than one game, but there may be a transitionalperiod where the gaming machine may not have any games available forplay.

The gaming machine 10 further includes a cabinet 16. The cabinet 16 is aself-standing unit that is generally rectangular in shape. In otherembodiments, the cabinet (not shown) may be a slant-top, bar-top, ortable-top style cabinet. However, any shaped cabinet may be used withany embodiment of the gaming machine 10 and sized for a player to beable to sit or stand while playing a game. Additionally, the cabinet 16may be manufactured with reinforced steel or other rigid materials thatare resistant to tampering and vandalism.

Cabinet 16 houses a game management unit (not shown) that includes aCPU, circuitry, and software for receiving signals from theplayer-activated buttons 18 and a handle 14, operating the games, andtransmitting signals to the game display 12 and speakers 21.

The game display 12 presents one or more games of chance such as, butnot limited to, mechanical slots, video slots, video poker, videoblackjack, video keno, video roulette, or Class II bingo. In alternateembodiments, the game display 12 may present games of skill or games ofchance involving some player skill. In various embodiments, the display12 is a video display such as, but not limited to, a CRT (cathode raytube), or a thin-panel display. Examples of thin-panel displays includeplasma, LCD (liquid crystal display), electroluminescent, vacuumfluorescent, field emission, or any other types of thin panel displaysknown or developed in the art. Additionally, the video picture may bepresented in either a portrait or landscape orientation and utilizestandard or widescreen dimensions. Optionally, the game display 12 mayalso include a touch screen or touch glass system (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 1, the gaming machine 10 includes a plurality ofplayer-activated buttons 18. These buttons 18 may be used for variousfunctions such as, but not limited to, selecting a wager denomination,selecting a number of games to be played, selecting the wager amount pergame, initiating a game, or cashing out money from the gaming machine10. While the buttons 18 shown in FIG. 1 are mechanical buttons, a touchscreen system, touch pad, track ball, mouse, switches, toggle switches,or other input means may be used to accept player input. Optionally,handle 14 may be “pulled” by a player to initiate a game.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a payment acceptor 24 for inserting playermoney or ticket vouchers into the gaming machine 10 is also included.Additionally, in optional embodiments a player may insert money, coins,tokens, credit cards, debit cards or other payment sources into thepayment acceptor 24. Once the player has inserted a form of payment intothe payment acceptor 24, the number of credits corresponding to theinserted payment is shown in a credit display (not shown) on the gamingmachine 10.

Additionally, the gaming machine 10 may include a coin hopper (notshown) wherein the coins that are immediately available for payouts areheld. Traditionally, the coin hopper is a mechanical device that rotatescoins into the coin tray 26 when a player collects his credits/coins bypressing a “Cash Out” button.

Optionally, the gaming machine 10 may also include a ticket or voucherprinter 22 for dispensing a ticket or voucher that is redeemable forcash. Additionally, in an optional embodiment, the gaming machine 10 mayalso include a player identification card reader 20 for reading playeridentification cards.

Generally, the gaming machine 10 also includes a game processor (notshown). The game processor is responsible for functions such as, but notlimited to, managing the game, determining coin status, or dispensingplayer winnings.

Alternately, in an optional embodiment, the gaming machine 10 includes avideo display 28 for presenting information such as, but not limited to,game related information, player information, advertisements and casinopromotions, graphic displays, news and sports updates, or even offeranother game. This information may be generated through a host computernetworked with the gaming machine 10 on its own initiative or it may beobtained by request of the player. The player may interact with thevideo display 28 through use of one or more of the plurality ofplayer-activated buttons 18. Additionally, by way of example, and notlimitation, player interaction with the video display 28 may also befulfilled through use of the video display itself if video display 28comprises a touch screen or similar technology, by depressing buttonsmounted about video display 28 (not shown) which may permit selectionssuch as those found on an ATM machine where legends on the screen areassociated with respective selecting buttons, or through use of thekeypad (not shown) located beneath video display 28.

In an optional embodiment, the gaming machine 10 may include or isassociated with a player tracking system (not shown). Referring to FIG.1, in one embodiment, the player tracking system (not shown) isoperatively connected to a player card reader 20 located on or near thegaming machine 10. In another embodiment, the card reader 20 is capableof reading information contained on a player card and transmitting thisinformation to the player tracking system. In another embodiment, theplayer tracking system is a player card reader/writer that can read andwrite information to a player card. Information that may be read fromthe card includes, but is not limited to, the player's name, rating,and/or accrued points. In another embodiment, the player tracking systemincludes biometric information including, but not limited to,fingerprints or signatures to verify the identity of the cardholder.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that not all gamingmachines 10 will have all these components and may have other componentsin addition to, or in lieu of, those components mentioned here.Furthermore, while these components are viewed and described separately,various components may be integrated into a single unit in someembodiments.

The gaming machine 10 also includes an accounting system. Referring toFIG. 2, an accounting system 100 is illustrated that maintainsaccounting information for active games on a gaming machine 10 and forgames that have been removed from the gaming machine. In one embodiment,the accounting system 100 uses two types of meter sets to capture andmaintain accounting data. The first type of meter set is a core set ofactive game meters 108 associated with each active game on the gamingmachine 10. The second type is a set of removed game meters 208dedicated to all games that have been removed from the gaming machine10. The set of removed game meters 208 accumulate and store gameaccounting information associated with the removed games, wherein theinformation is captured prior to each game's removal from the gamingmachine 10.

Generally, the accounting system 100 uses data collected from the twotypes of meter sets 108 and 208 to balance gaming machine accountinginformation and to determine gaming machine performance. In oneembodiment, the accounting system 100 includes multiple active gamemeter sets 108. A set of active game meters 108 is assigned to eachactive game on the gaming machine 10 and one set of active game meters108 is assigned to the gaming machine as a whole. For example, if agaming machine supports ten different games, then the accounting systemwould maintain eleven different active game meter sets 108 (e.g. 108 a,108 b, 108 c, 108 d, etc). In this scenario, each of the ten activegames is assigned its own set of active game meters 108 and the gamingmachine as a whole is assigned its own set of active game meters 108.

In one embodiment, each gaming machine 10 includes one set of removedgame meters 208. As a game is removed from the gaming machine 10, asubset of the game's accounting information is accumulated in the set ofremoved game meters 208.

The accounting system 100 also includes an accounting processor 150 formanaging and maintaining the metered data. The accounting processor 150can access the data and manipulate it as needed. For example, theaccounting processor 150 can access data from the meter sets 108 and208. The accessed data can then be used for such purposes as balancingthe gaming machine accounting information, determining individual gameperformance, determining overall gaming machine performance, and forvarious other accounting purposes known to those skilled in the art.

The accounting processor 150 is operatively connected to a gamingmachine 10 (not shown in FIG. 2) that permits the accounting processor150 and the gaming machine 10 to exchange data. In one embodiment, theaccounting processor 150 is housed within a gaming machine 10. In anoptional embodiment, the accounting processor 150 is operativelyconnected to the gaming machine 10, but the accounting processor isphysically located outside of the gaming machine 10.

Each set of active game meters 108 and the set of removed game meters208 include multiple meter components. In one embodiment, the activegame meters 108 contain the same meter components as the removed gamemeters 208. Alternatively, in an optional embodiment the active gamemeters 108 do not contain exactly the same meter components as theremoved game meters 208. Referring back to FIG. 2, in one embodiment,the active game meter set 108 is a core set of active game meters thatincludes the following meter components: a coin in meter 110, a coin outmeter 112, an attendant paid jackpot meter 114, and a theoretical winmeter 116. The coin in meter 110 monitors and counts the value of allwagers received by the gaming machine for the particular game. The coinout meter 112 monitors and counts the value of all winnings paid out bythe gaming machine for the particular game.

The attendant paid jackpot meter 114 monitors and counts the value ofall attendant paid winnings. Typically, if a win exceeds a certainamount, the payout to the player is distributed by an attendant ratherthan by the gaming machine. The theoretical win meter 116 monitors theamount of money that should be paid out over time for a game. In oneembodiment, the theoretical win meter monitors all coin in (or all betswagered for a game) and multiplies that amount by the game theoreticalpercentage. The game theoretical percentage is the percentage ofwinnings a game is programmed to theoretically pay out over time.Generally, the game theoretical percentage is specific to a particulargame and is a derived value based upon statistical analysis and gamingregulations. Additionally, the manufacturer or casino typicallydetermines and designates the game theoretical percentage value for aparticular game.

In one embodiment, the set of removed game meters 208 includes a coin inmeter 210, a coin out meter 212, an attendant paid jackpot meter 214,and a theoretical win meter 216. The value for the coin in meter 210 isthe accumulated “coin in” value of all games that have been removed fromthe gaming machine. The value for the coin in meter 210 may also berepresented more conveniently and concisely by the mathematicalstatement below, where the subscript “r” corresponds with informationtaken from removed games.

${{CoinIn}_{r} = {\sum\limits_{i}{CoinIn}_{i}}};{\text{∀}{GamesRemoved}}$

Similarly, the values for the coin out meter 212, attendant paid jackpotmeter 214, and theoretical win meter 216 may be represented as:

${{CoinOut}_{r} = {\sum\limits_{i}{CoinOut}_{i}}};{\text{∀}{GamesRemoved}}$${{AttenPaidJackpot}_{r} = {\sum\limits_{i}{AttenPaidJackpot}_{i}}};{\text{∀}{GamesRemoved}}$${{TheoreticalWin}_{r} = {\sum\limits_{i}{{CoinIn}_{i}*{GameTheoreticalPct}_{i}}}};$∀GamesRemoved

In one embodiment, in order to balance the gaming machine, theaccounting processor 150 will sum the related constituent components ofthe meter sets 108 and 208. For example, in order to determine the total“coin in” value for a gaming machine the sum of coin in for all activegames is added to the accumulated value of the coin in for removedgames. This may also be represented more conveniently and concisely bythe following expression, where the subscript ‘g’ corresponds toinformation taken from individual active games and the subscript “r”corresponds with information taken from removed games:

${CoinIn} = {{CoinIn}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{CoinIn}_{g}}}$

The total values for coin out, attendant paid jackpot, and theoreticalwin meter may be determined in a similar fashion and are represented bythe following expressions:

$\mspace{79mu} {{CoinOut} = {{CoinOut}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{CoinOut}_{g}}}}$$\mspace{79mu} {{AttenPaidJackpot} = {{AttenPaidJackpot}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{AttenPaidJackpot}_{g}}}}$${TheoreticalWin} = {{TheoreticalWin}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{{CoinIn}_{g}*{GameTheoreticalPct}_{g}}}}$

Additionally, the metered values can be used to calculate gameperformance. Game performance is defined as the percentage of wagerreturned to the player over the lifespan of the game. Game performancecan generally by expressed as follows:

ReturnPct=Win/Wager

This expression may be rewritten in different detail in order toaccommodate various governmental or jurisdictional requirements. The Wincomponent is segmented into a Coin Out value (machine paid winnings thatexclude bonus and progressive amounts) and an Attendant Paid Jackpotvalue (attendant paid winning that exclude bonus and progressiveamounts). Therefore, by restating the Win component as:

Win=CoinOut+AttenPaidJackpot

and substituting this into the previous expression, the game performancecan be rewritten as:

ReturnPct=(CoinOut+AttenPaidJackpot)/Wager

Additionally, the Wager component of these equations is commonlyreferred to as Coin In. Substituting the Coin In for Wager yields thefinal expression:

ReturnPct=(CoinOut+AttenPaidJackpot)/CoinIn

Additionally, if a gaming machine supports multiple active games, thenthe single game performance can be expressed as follows, where thesubscript “g” is used to identify a particular active game:

ReturnPct_(g)=(CoinOut_(g)+AttenPaidJackpot_(g))/CoinIn_(g)

In summary, the final set of expressions used to determine the returnpercent are as follows, where the subscript “g” corresponds to specificactive games, and the subscript “r” corresponds to removed games:

ReturnPct_(g)=(CoinOut_(g)+AttenPaidJackpot_(g))/CoinIn_(g)

ReturnPct_(r)=(CoinOut_(r)+AttenPaidJackpot_(r))/CoinIn_(r)

ReturnPct=(CoinOut+AttenPaidJackpot)/CoinIn

Additionally, the actual performance of a gaming machine can be comparedto the Weighted Theoretical Percentage (WTP) of the gaming machine. TheWTP for a single game is expressed as the Game Theoretical Percentage.

WTP=GameTheoreticalPct

Calculating the WTP for a gaming machine having multiple games involvessumming the adjusted WTP for each game. Using the subscript of “g” toidentify game specific values, the adjusted WTP_(g) is calculated asfollows:

AdjustedWTP_(g)=(GameTheoreticalPct_(g)*CoinIn_(g))/CoinIn

It is noted that the Coin In value in the divisor of the aboveexpression is the gaming machine's total Coin In. The calculation forWTP of a gaming machine with multiple games is:

${WTP} = {\sum\limits_{g}{AdjustedWTP}_{g}}$${WTP} = {\sum\limits_{g}{{GameTheoreticalPct}_{g}*{{CoinIn}_{g}/{CoinIn}}}}$${WTP} = {\left( {\sum\limits_{g}{{GameTheoreticalPct}_{g}*{CoinIn}_{g}}} \right)/{CoinIn}}$

In other words, the WTP for a game may be represented as:

WTP_(g)=TheoreticalWin_(g)/CoinIn_(g)

and the accumulated WTP for all games removed from the gaming machinemay be represented as:

WTP_(r)=TheoreticalWin_(r)/CoinIn_(r)

wherein the overall total WTP is represented as:

WTP=TheoreticalWin/CoinIn

One objective for tracking game performance is to compare it against thetheoretical performance. This comparison can be performed in a varietyof ways, such as by using performance delta and performance rate. In oneembodiment, performance delta and performance rate are represented bythe following expressions:

PerformanceDelta=ReturnPct−WTP

PerformanceRate=ReturnPct/WTP

For the accounting system 100, the performance delta for a particularactive game is determined as follows:

PerformanceDelta_(g)=ReturnPct_(g)−WTP_(g)

Additionally, for the accounting system 100, the performance delta forthe removed games may be represented by the following:

PerformanceDelta_(r)=ReturnPct_(r)−WTP_(r)

Similarly, the overall performance delta may be represented as follows:

PerformanceDelta=ReturnPct−WTP

Additionally, the performance rate for an active game and theaccumulated removed games, may be represented, respectively as:

PerformanceRate_(g)=ReturnPct_(g)/WTP_(g)

PerformanceRate_(r)=ReturnPct_(r)/WTP_(r)

Similarly, the overall performance rate expressions can be written as:

PerformanceRate=ReturnPct/WTP

Optionally, the accounting system 100 may also be applied to progressivegames. In a progressive-type game, each game wager contributes to atotal progressive value, and this value is “won” by a player when aspecified combination of symbols appears as a result of game play.Generally, in a progressive-type game, progressive wins are accountedfor in lieu of a coin out win. In one embodiment including a progressivegaming scheme, the accounting system 100 includes a machine paidprogressive meter 118, an attendant paid progressive meter 120 and aprogressive theoretical win meter 122. The machine paid progressivemeter 118 monitors the progressive win values paid out for a progressivegame. Additionally, the attendant paid progressive meter 120 monitorsand counts the value of all winnings from a particular progressive gamepaid out. The progressive theoretical win meter 122 is similar to thetheoretical win meter 116 except it meters progressive games only.

As previously discussed, in order to balance the accounting, theaccounting processor 150 will sum the related constituent components ofthe meter sets 108 and 208. The accounting processor 150 will sum therelated constituent components of the progressive meters in the samefashion as described above for the non-progressive meters. The totaledvalues for the collection of machine paid progressive meters 118, thecollection of attendant paid progressive meters 120 and the collectionof progressive theoretical win meters 122 may be represented,respectively, as follows, where the subscript “g” corresponds tospecific active games, and the subscript “r” corresponds to removedgames:

$\mspace{79mu} {{MachPaidProg} = {{MachPaidProg}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{MachPaidProg}_{g}}}}$$\mspace{79mu} {{AttenPaidProg} = {{AttenPaidProg}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{AttenPaidProg}_{g}}}}$${ProgTheoreticalWin} = {{ProgTheoreticalWin}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{ProgTheoreticalWin}_{g}}}$

where:

ProgTheoreticalWin_(g)=CoinIn_(g)*(ProgTheoreticalPct_(g)+GameTheoreticalPct_(g))

Additionally, the metered values collected for the progressive games canalso be used to calculate game performance. The expressions fordetermining percentage of wager returned for progressive games may beexpressed as follows, where the subscript ‘g’ corresponds to informationtaken from individual active games and the subscript “r” correspondswith information taken from removed games:

ReturnPctProg_(g)=(CoinIn_(g)+AttenPaidJackpot_(g)+MachPaidProg_(g)+AttenPaidProg_(g))/CoinOut_(g)

ReturnPctProg_(r)=(CoinIn_(r)+AttenPaidJackpot_(r)+MachPaidProg_(r)+AttenPaidProg_(r))/CoinOut_(r)

ReturnPctProg=(CoinIn+AttenPaidJackpot+MachPaidProg+AttenPaidProg)/CoinOut

As in the case of non-progressive games, the actual performance of agaming machine may be compared to the weighted theoretical percentage(WTP) of the gaming machine that includes progressive-type games. Theexpressions for determining the weighted theoretical percentage ofprogressive games are described below, where the subscript ‘g’corresponds to information taken from individual active games and thesubscript “r” corresponds with information taken from removed games:

WTPProg_(g)=ProgTheoreticalWin_(g)/CoinIn_(g)

WTPProg_(r)=ProgTheoreticalWin_(r)/CoinIn_(r)

WTPProg=ProgTheoreticalWin/CoinIn

The performance delta and performance rate expressions for progressivegames are expressed as follows:

PerformanceDeltaProg_(g)=ReturnPctProg_(g)−WTPProg_(g)

PerformanceDeltaProg_(r)=ReturnPctProg_(r)−WTPProg_(r)

PerformanceDeltaProg=ReturnPctProg−WTPProg

PerformanceRateProg_(g)=ReturnPctProg_(g)/WTPProg_(g)

PerformanceRateProg_(r)=ReturnPctProg_(r)/WTPProg_(r)

PerformanceRateProg=ReturnPctProg/WTPProg

The accounting system 100, in one embodiment may be applied to a gamingmachine having only non-progressive type games. Alternatively, theaccounting system 100 may be used with a gaming machine having onlyprogressive type games. Optionally, in another embodiment, theaccounting system is suitable for use with a gaming machine having acombination of progressive and non-progressive type games.

Generally, the one or more set of active game meters 108 and the set ofremoved game meters 208 are operatively connected to the gaming machine10. In one embodiment, the meter sets 108 and 208 are stored innon-volatile memory. Optionally, the meters may be stored in areprogrammable, non-volatile memory source such as EPROMs (ErasableProgrammable ROM), EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), andflash memory.

In an alternate embodiment, the meters are stored in a memory devicesuch as, but not limited to, external memory devices, hard drives,rewritable CD-ROMs, or rewritable DVDs. In an optional embodiment, themeters are stored in a remote storage device. In one embodiment, theremote storage device is housed in a remote server. The gaming machinemay access the remote storage device via a network connection, includingbut not limited to, a local area network connection, a TCP/IPconnection, a wireless connection, or any other means for operativelynetworking components together.

Optionally, in an additional embodiment, the accounting system 100includes the ability of restoring accounting information related to aremoved game. For example, if an active game was removed and theaccounting information was captured prior to storing the accountinginformation in the set of removed game meters 208, then uponreinstallation of the removed game, the accounting system 100 willresume accounting meters at values that were captured at the time thegame was removed.

More particularly, in one embodiment, games can be added and deletedelectronically, either through networked software download or viaremovable media. Additionally, in an optional embodiment, it is possibleto capture the game state information immediately before removing it.The captured state information may be stored on the networked hostserver or on a removable type storage media. Optionally, the capturedstate information may be stored in a storage means on the gamingmachine. The captured state information may include data having valuesfrom game specific accounting meters immediately before the game wasremoved. In other words, the captured state information may representthe value on the meter immediately prior to it being accumulated withthe removed game meters. Similarly, other game state information couldinclude game history logs that are required by governmental orjurisdictional agencies.

After the game state information has been captured, it is possible torestore the game and its associated state information, including itsmeters. To perform a game restore, the captured game meters aresubtracted from the corresponding accumulating removed game meters 208,and then data is copied into a an available, or “new” set of active gamemeters 108.

This works for both multi-game and single game applications, providedthat the game located at the destination for the restored game wasproperly removed before restoration.

In one embodiment, game restoration works only with a single gamingmachine. In an optional embodiment, game restoration is applied to awhole network of gaming machines.

Game restoration may be concisely represented by a series ofexpressions. Given that a game was once removed, then restored, thefollowing expressions may be used, where the subscript T corresponds toinformation associated with the restored game, the subscript ‘g’corresponds to information taken from individual active games and thesubscript “r” corresponds with information taken from removed games:

CoinIn_(r)=CoinIn_(r)−CoinIn_(j)

CoinIn_(g)=CoinIn_(j)

CoinOut_(r)=CoinOut_(r)−CoinOut_(j)

CoinOut_(g)=CoinOut_(j)

AttenPaidJackpot_(r)=AttenPaidJackpot_(r)−AttenPaidJackpot_(j)

AttenPaidJackpot_(g)=AttenPaidJackpot_(j)

MachPaidProg_(r)=MachPaidProg_(r)−MachPaidProg_(j)

MachPaidProg_(g)=MachPaidProg_(j)

AttenPaidProg_(r)=AttenPaidProg_(r)−AttenPaidProg_(j)

AttenPaidProg_(g)=AttenPaidProg_(j)

In an optional embodiment, in order to save additional memory space,fewer meters may be utilized. For example, rather than maintaining atheoretical win meter 116 in the meter set 108, the theoretical win mayinstead be calculated by multiplying the coin in meter component by thegame theoretical percentage.

A theoretical win meter 216 is necessary for the set of removed gamemeters since the game theoretical percentage is not available after thegame is removed from the gaming machine 10.

Additionally, the same scenario applies to the progressive theoreticalwin accounting meters. In an optional embodiment the progressivetheoretical win may instead be calculated by multiplying the coin inmeter component by the sum of the progressive theoretical percentage andthe game theoretical percentage.

Optionally, in an alternate embodiment the progressive theoreticalpercentage is isolated from the game theoretical percentage, until thefinal calculations when they are combined. For example, if theprogressive calculations excluded the game calculations then thefollowing expressions could be an equivalent alternative:

     ProgTheoreticalWin_(g) = CoinIn_(g) * ProgTheoreticalPct_(g) $\mspace{79mu} {{ProgTheoreticalWin}\; = {\sum\limits_{g}{ProgTheoreticalWin}_{g}}}$     WTPProg = ProgTheoreticalWin/CoinIn${ProgTheoreticalWin}\; = {{ProgTheoreticalWin}_{r} + {\sum\limits_{g}{ProgTheoreticalWin}_{g}}}$     TotalTheoreticalWin_(g) = TheoreticalWin_(g) + ProgTheoreticalWin_(g)     TotalTheoreticalWin   = TheoreticalWin + ProgTheoreticalWin

In an alternative embodiment, pre-allocated space (or buckets) in theEGM is designed to hold multiple sets of accounting meters, such thatone set of accounting meters is reserved for each game. In thisscenario, each time a game is added to the EGM (including the initialgame), the added game is assigned to an unused bucket. Each game usesits respective bucket until the game is removed or deleted from the EGM.However, once all of the buckets have been assigned, there is no longerany room to add new games without removing old information. For example,if ten buckets are allocated and eleven games are installed, theeleventh game would require some essential data to be cleared from abucket so that there would be space to store data from the eleventhgame.

Referring to FIG. 3, the gaming machine 10 may be connected to a casinonetwork system 300 having one or more additional gaming machines. Thecasino network system may include a server system 312. A variety oftypes of servers may be used as the system server 312. The type ofserver used is generally determined by the platform and softwarerequirements of the gaming system. Additionally, the system server 312may be configured to comprise multiple servers. In one embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 3, the server system 312 is configured to includethree servers. Specifically, servers 314, 316 and 318 form the serversystem 312, or the back-end servers. In one example, server 314 is aWindows® based server, server 316 is an IBM RS6000 based server, andserver 318 is an IBM AS/400 based server. Of course, one of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that different types of servers mayalso be used. The server system 312 performs several fundamentalfunctions. For example, the server system 312 can collect data from theslot floor as communicated to it from other network components, andmaintain the collected data in its database. The server system 312 mayuse slot floor data to generate a report used in casino operationfunctions. Examples of such reports include, but are not limited to,accounting reports, security reports, and usage reports. The systemserver 312 may also pass data to another server for other functions.Alternatively, the system server 312 may pass data stored on itsdatabase to floor hardware for interaction with a game or game player.For example, data such as a game player's name or the amount of a ticketbeing redeemed at a game may be passed to the floor hardware.Additionally, the system server 312 may comprise one or more datarepositories for storing data. Examples of types of data stored in thesystem server data repositories include, but are not limited to,information relating to individual player play data, individual gameaccounting data, gaming machine accounting data, cashable ticket data,and sound data including optimum audio outputs for various casinosettings.

The network bridges 320 and network rack 322 shown in FIG. 3 arenetworking components. These networking components, which may beclassified as middleware, facilitate communications between the systemserver 312 and the game management units 326. The network bridges 320concentrate the many game management units 326 (2,000 on average) into afewer number (nominally 50:1) of connections to the system server 312.Additionally, the network rack 322 may also concentrate game managementunits 326 into a fewer number (2000:1) of connections to the systemserver 312. The network bridges 320 and network rack 322 may comprisedata repositories for storing network performance data. Such performancedata may be based on network traffic and other network relatedinformation. Optionally, the network bridge 320 and the network rack 322may be interchangeable components. For example, in one embodiment, acasino gaming system may comprise only network bridges and no networkracks. Alternatively, in another embodiment, a casino gaming system maycomprise only network racks and no network bridges. Additionally, in analternative embodiment, a casino gaming system may comprise anycombination of one or more network bridges and one or more networkracks.

The gaming machines 310, illustrated in FIG. 3, act as terminals forinteracting with a player playing a casino game. In various embodiments,any of the gaming machines 310 may be a mechanical reel spinning slotmachine, video slot machine, video poker machine, keno machine, videoblackjack machine, or a gaming machine offering one or more of theabove-described games. Additionally, each gaming machine 310 maycomprise one or more data repositories for storing data. Examples ofinformation stored by the gaming machines 310 include, but are notlimited to, accounting data, maintenance history information, shortand/or long-term play data, real-time play data, and sound data. Thesound data may include, but is not limited to, audio files, sound clips,way files, mp3 files and sound files saved in various other formats.Furthermore, each gaming machine 310 comprises an audio system (notshown) for outputting sound.

Game management units (GMUs) connect gaming machines to network bridges.The function of the GMU is similar to the function of a networkinterface card connected to a desktop personal computer (PC). Referringto FIG. 3, a GMU 326 connects a gaming machine 310 to the network bridge320. Some GMUs have much greater capability and can perform such tasksas calculating a promotional cash-back award for a player, generating aunique ID for a cash redeemable ticket, and storing limited amounts ofgame and transaction based data. Some GMUs may comprise one or more datarepositories for storing data. The types of data stored by the GMUs mayinclude, but is not limited to, real-time game data, communication linkperformance data, real-time player play data and sound data includingsound files and audio clips.

In one embodiment, the GMU 326 is a separate component located outsidethe gaming machine. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the GMU 326 islocated within the gaming machine. Optionally, in an alternativeembodiment, one or more gaming machines 310 connect directly to anetwork bridge 320 and are not connected to a GMU 326. Additionally, inan optional embodiment, the accounting processor 150 (illustrated inFIG. 2) is housed in the GMU 326.

Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that acasino gaming system may also comprise other types of components, andthe above illustration is meant only as an example and not as alimitation to the types of components used in a casino gaming system.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention.Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modificationsand changes that may be made to the claimed invention without followingthe example embodiments and applications illustrated and describedherein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of theclaimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. A method for managing game accounting on at least one gaming machinecomprising one or more active games, the method comprising: storing aset of active game meters for each active game on the gaming machine andone set of deleted game meters accumulating data corresponding to allgames deleted from the gaming machine; storing active game data inapplicable active game meters; capturing deleted game data prior todeletion of a game; storing deleted game state data in the accumulatingdeleted game meters; accessing the stored game data;] determining theoverall gaming machine performance by comparing a theoretical win valuewith a return percentage of the gaming machine.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising calculating the theoretical win value.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising storing the calculated theoreticalwin value in a dedicated active game meter.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein each set of active game meters comprises one or more of a coinin meter, a coin out meter, an attendant paid jackpot meter, atheoretical win meter, a machine paid progressive meter, an attendantpaid progressive meter, and a progressive theoretical win meter.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the set of deleted game meters comprises oneor more of a coin in meter, a coin out meter, an attendant paid jackpotmeter, a theoretical win meter, a machine paid progressive meter, anattendant paid progressive meter, and a progressive theoretical winmeter.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a progressivetheoretical win value to determine the overall gaming machineperformance.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising calculatingthe progressive theoretical win value.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising storing the calculated progressive theoretical win value in adedicated active game meter.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: identifying a game to delete from the gaming machine;capturing game state data from the game prior to deleting the game; andstoring the captured game state data in the deleted game meters suchthat the captured game state data is accumulated in the deleted gamemeters.
 10. The method of claim 2, further comprising restoring thedeleted game and the stored game state data associated with the deletedgame.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining the overall gamingmachine performance further comprises subtracting the captured gamestate data of the restored game from the deleted game meters.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising adding a game to the gamingmachine and providing a set of active game meters for the added activegame.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuing to accessthe active game meters and the deleted game meters to track the overallgaming machine performance over time.
 14. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising providing a set of active game meters for the gaming machineas a whole.